That’s what you’ll find on the 4-day Storm Pack Trail. And when the sun sets, you’ll be relaxing in pure backcountry comfort. Cowboy style.

Explore the untouched beauty that Alberta has to offer on horseback! Trail glacier-fed rivers, to our first night's accommodations and relax in the comforting lodge. Feel at peach with the sounds of wildlife coaxing you to sleep. The following day enjoy another long ride through the endless forest. Plenty of photo opportunities and chances for wildlife spotting!

Spend the first night at Sundance Lodge, second night at Halfway Lodge, third night back at Sundance Lodge. Snuggle by the fire, devour gourmet backcountry cuisine and swap tales about the day’s adventures with your fellow riders.

Itinerary for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

Storm Pack Trail Trip –4 days, 3 nights

Day 1
Riders meet at 9:30 a.m. at Warner Stables. For those with a vehicle, free parking is available at the stables for the duration of the trip. Here you will meet your fellow riders and your guides for your trip. Slickers and saddle bags will be handed out if required and you will have time to organize your gear and ask any questions you may have. Your guides will then introduce you to your horses which have been specifically picked for you. Once you are comfortable you will mount up for the 9 mile ride to Sundance Lodge via the glacier-fed waters of the Bow River, Healy, and Brewster Creeks. Half way to the lodge you will stop and enjoy a leisurely hot lunch by the Bow River. After lunch, we will continue along the trail into Sundance Lodge where your lodge host awaits you. Estimated time of arrival is 4:30pm. Settle into your room and freshen up, then join your fellow riders around the fire or on the deck to swop stories of your ride in.

Day 2
The adventure continues southward with a ride up to Halfway Lodge. The trail winds along the historic Storm pack trail with the rugged Sundance Range dominating the eastern horizon. You will have lunch halfway through the day in an open mountain meadow.Ride time: Approx. 5-6 hours plus leisurely lunch
Ride distance: Approx. 9 miles

Day 3
After a warm good-bye to the cook and Halfway, the winding trail leads back along the Brewster Creek to Sundance Lodge.Ride time: Approx. 5-6 hours plus leisurely lunch
Ride distance: Approx. 9 miles

Day 4
The gang gets together for one last day on the trail, a “soft” 9-mile ride from Sundance to Warner Stables, arriving at approximately 4:30 p.m. The adventure has come to a close, but the magic of your holiday will linger on to be relived and shared.

Slow, 4-6 hrs per day. All of our rides travel at a walk and in single file. This is to ensure everyone’s safety on these shared trails.

Level:

(2
to
2
out of 5) Novice

Age:

Min
9

Riders:

Min
1 riders

Max
14 riders

Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passport valid for at least one day beyond the intended departure date from Canada required by all nationals referred to in the chart except the following: (a) 1. Canadian citizens holding a Canadian . more

Climate for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Month High Low

May 14C / 57C 2C / 34F

June 19C / 66F 5C / 41F

July 22C / 71F 7C / 45F

August 22C / 70F 7C / 44F

September 16C / 60F 3C / 38F

October 10C / 50F -1C / 31F

* These are average temperatures at an elevation of 4852 feet. Temperatures will drop at higher elevations.

What to Bring for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

The following pages outline the items you NEED to bring with you. It is essential that our guests be prepared for all kinds of mountain weather. We have had many years of personal experience dealing with Mother Nature up here, so please take our list to heart. Mother Nature can be unpredictable up here in the mountains, so our guests need to come prepared for every type of weather. Clothing that is easily layered works the best. You can always remove what you don’t need, but you still have it just in case. Also, bring your most comfortable gear. This is not the time to break-in new boots or a new hat.

Please note that we provide the bed, bedding and pillows. The length of your trip will alter what you need. This list is ideal for a 6 day trip.

The following list details essential items to bring with you:

X = Necessary

Check List

Travel documents and Voucher

X

Flight tickets

X

Passport

X

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Chaps -- If you have them, bring them

Riding boots -- A boot with a heel that can easily slip in and out of stirrups. Alternatives would be a narrow style of hiking boot or solid sneaker. For safety reasons, clunky hiking boots are not recommended. Plastic bags inside your boots will keep your feet dry on rainy days

X

Riding helmet (recommended for all trips)

Gloves -- Lined leather or suede gloves provide protection from the elements and a sure grip on the reins (bring two pair just in case one gets wet)

X

Hat -- A cowboy hat offers the most protection from the elements. Baseball caps or canvas-type hats are also fine. Please ensure that your hat fits snug or ties on and will not blow off in the wind

X

Scarf -- A silk or cotton scarf is recommended for extra warmth

X

Rain gear -- A rain coat and rain pants, and if possible, coverings for your boots and hat. Please DO NOT bring rain ponchos, they flap in the wind and spook the horses. If you have one, we recommend an oilskin slicker. We have a limited supply of full-length oilskin slickers for rent. If you are interested in this service, please book early

X

PERSONAL CLOTHING

A warm coat -- Essential to ward off chilly nights or a windy day. Also bring a heavy sweater (wool is a great insulator) or fleece jacket

Jeans -- We suggest one pair for riding in over the six days and one other pair for wearing around various camps at night. Also important is a pair of long underwear for chilly nights

X

Underwear and socks

X

Sneakers -- or an extra pair of shoes for wearing around camp, an extra pair of DRY socks is also recommended

X

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Toiletries -- towel, facecloth, biodegradable shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, disposable razors, etc. Please note that we do not have any electricity at the camps. WE SUPPLY TOILET PAPER AND HAND SOAP AT ALL CAMPS

X

Insect protection

X

Personal medications

X

Camera and enough extra films and batteries

X

Sun glasses with strap

X

Sun tan lotion and lip balm

X

Flashlight -- Remember to check your batteries!

X

Water bottle – for refreshment while you are riding

X

Liquor -- Please make sure that all bottled liquor is well-wrapped in plastic and placed in the middle of your duffel to prevent it from breaking. Plastic bottles are preferred. Please remember that alcohol is included in your 30lb weight limit on your duffel. All camps are supplied by mule or pack horse

When packing your gear, keep in mind it is being packed out to the lodge on a mule and our animals comfort is very important to us. By following these guidelines you can help us ensure that.

You must pack your gear in soft-sided, cloth or nylon bag. It can not have any hard edges, frames or wheels. Your gear is restricted to a Total maximum weight of 30 lbs. It’s a good idea to line the inside of your bag with garbage bags for waterproofing. Your coat, rain gear, hat and gloves are packed separately from your duffel and are either worn or tied with saddle strings to the back of your saddle. Saddlebags, rain gear and other essentials that you are taking on your horse with you are not included in the 30 lb weight restriction.

EQUIPMENT RENTAL

It's a good idea to reserve ahead if you are interested in renting saddlebags or rain slickers. Saddle bags rent for $2 a day. Rain slickers rent for $7 a day. You have the option of bringing your own saddle bags.

Please fill them only with essential items that you would need during the day, such as lip balm, your camera, sunscreen, etc. We reserve the right to limit the amount of gear in the saddlebags for weight.

Fanny packs (a small pack that ties around the waist) also work well. Daypacks, backpacks or other bags are NOT allowed -- they are hard on your back and hard on the horse’s back, and do not tie properly to the saddle.

We have a limited supply of saddlebags for rent for $2/day; however we suggest you book them early, as last year this was a popular service.

Video for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

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Google Map for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

Average Tour Ratings for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.

Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.

Accommodations for
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

Completed in 1991, Sundance Lodge now sits on the original site of the horse corral for Ten-Mile cabin, built by Canadian Pacific Railway back in the 1920's. The cabin itself remains standing and was declared a historical site in 1990. It was used as a refuge for mountain guides and packers traveling to Mount Assiniboine, whose names you can still see carved into the logs.

Sundance Lodge sits alongside a gentle curve on Brewster Creek, with the Sundance mountain range as a backdrop. Built entirely with fir logs, the lodge has 10 sleeping rooms, a large country kitchen, and a cozy living room area where you can curl up by the woodstove and lose yourself in a good book. And although it is a remote backcountry lodge, we decided to add what we felt was an important comfort from home - hot showers! (Please note that, for environmental reasons, showers are restricted to one per stay.)

Surrounded by the beauty of towering peaks, Halfway Lodge has been a welcome haven for over 60 years. Rich in tradition, this cabin was used back in the late 1920's by mountain guide Erling Strom as a stopover for his guests traveling from Banff to Mount Assiniboine. Then a single storied cabin, Strom's wranglers spent the night sleeping in tents while the guests found floor space within. Halfway has remained pretty much as originally built, with the exception of a second story added in 1967 when a bear made an appearance through an unexpected entrance - the roof!

Thanks to the bear, Halfway now sleeps a maximum of fourteen guests. The lifestyle at this rustic backcountry cabin remains much the same as it was 60 years ago - simple. Propane lanterns and candles provide the lighting, and a woodstove keeps the water hot and the cabin warm and cozy.

Note: private sleeping arrangements are possible depending on trip size, but are not guaranteed. Halfway is equipped with single beds only.

Meals: Although we can cater to some specialty diets, we do not cater specifically to vegetarian diets. There are always plenty of meat-free options available. However we do not offer a “vegetarian” main course.

Banff - Storm Pack Trail

Slow, 4-6 hrs per day. All of our rides travel at a walk and in single file. This is to ensure everyone’s safety on these shared trails.

Level:

(2
to
2
out of 5) Novice

Age:

Min
9

Riders:

Min
1 riders

Max
14 riders

Visa Requirement For
Banff - Storm Pack Trail

Passports
Passport valid for at least one day beyond the intended departure date from Canada required by all nationals referred to in the chart except the following:
(a) 1. Canadian citizens holding a Canadian Certificate of Identity, Canadian birth certificate or a certificate of Canadian citizenship;
(b) permanent residents of Canada with proof of status, ie Permanent Resident Card, Record of Landing, Returning Resident Permit or a Refugee Travel Document issued by the government of Canada to refugees who have been resettled in Canada;
(c) 2. citizens of the USA holding proof of citizenship (eg US birth certificate or US naturalisation papers).Note: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other approved document when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced as early as 1 January 2008. For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.
(d) persons entering from St Pierre & Miquelon or the USA who are legal permanent residents of the USA and hold a US alien registration card (Green Card);
(e) 3. citizens of France who are residents of and entering from St Pierre & Miquelon.Note: (a) Children under 18 years must have information with them on the people responsible for their welfare, if travelling alone; this includes a letter of permission to travel from guardian(s), and also a letter from the custodian in Canada. (b) Depending on circumstance and nationality, certain applicants may need to undergo a medical examination in order to receive their visas; this must be carried out by a physician on Canada's list of Designated Medical Practitioners.Passport Note
Visitors to Canada must satisfy an examining officer at the Port of Entry that they are genuine visitors, in good health, with no criminal convictions, and have sufficient funds to maintain themselves during their stay in Canada and to return to their country of origin, as well as evidence of confirmed onward reservations out of Canada. Persons under 18 years of age who are unaccompanied by an adult should bring with them a letter from a parent or guardian giving them permission to travel to Canada.

Identity/travel documents issued to non-national residents of the country of issue, refugees or stateless persons are recognized for travel to Canada.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in chart above (visitor or transit) for stays of up to six months except the following:
(a) 4. holders of passports endorsed ‘British Subjects’ and ‘British Protected Persons’;
(b) 5. nationals of Bulgaria and Romania;
(c) those visiting Canada who, during that visit, also visit the USA or St Pierre & Miquelon (a French Overseas Territory) and return directly to Canada as visitors within the period authorised on their initial entry (or any extension thereto).

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
The Government of Canada refuses admission to: (a) holders of passports issued by the UK Government entitled 'British Temporary Resident's Passport'.

(a) A single-entry visa is still valid if used to visit the USA. (b) Persons wishing to attend a course of six months duration or less, at any level, do not require a study permit. However, if there is the possibility that you will extend your period of study in Canada, or if you are a full time student and wish to work on campus, you may apply for a study permit.
Types of Visa and Cost
Visitor: C$75 (single-entry); C$150 (multiple-entry). Family: C$400 (for families of six or more persons). Transit: free. Transit visas are necessary for all nationals who require a visitor visa. Although transit visas are not required by British citizens, they may be required by foreign nationals with British passports; check with the embassy or high commission for details. For further information on payment methods, contact the high commission. Prices are subject to frequent change.
Validity
Up to six months depending on circumstances of individual applicant. The determination regarding length of stay in Canada can only be decided by the examining officer at the port of entry, but visas cannot exceed the validity of the passport and cannot be longer than five years. If no actual departure date is indicated within the visitor’s passport, then the visitor will be required to depart within three months from the date of entry. Visitors must effect their departure from Canada on or before the date authorised by the examining officer on arrival. If an extension of stay is desired, an application must be made in writing to the nearest Canada Immigration Centre at least three weeks before the expiry of the visitor visa. Multiple-entry visas cannot be valid longer than passport. Transit visas are only allocated if a national's flight/onward journey is continuing within 24 hours. Single-entry visas can be used multiple times by nationals of St Pierre & Miquelon and the USA.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission)
Working Days Required
10 days are required from receiving applications, but applications should be made at least one month prior to the intended date of departure. Certain nationals are subject to longer processing times. For urgent applications it is advised to apply in person. Same-day processing is available for applications made in person and 24-hour processing for those using the drop-in service.

Passport Required?

British

Yes

Australian

Yes

Canadian

1

USA

2

Other EU

3

Visa Required?

British

No/4

Australian

No

Canadian

N/A

USA

No

Other EU

5

Return Ticket Required?

British

Yes

Australian

Yes

Canadian

N/A

USA

No

Other EU

Yes

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.